DRIVERS OF GROUNDNUT FARMERS HOUSEHOLD MARKET PARTICIPATION DECISIONS IN KATETA SUB-COUNTY, SERERE DISTRICT
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2026-09-28
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BUSITEMA UNIVERSITY
Abstract
This study examined the drivers of groundnut farmers' intra-household market participation decisions in Kateta Sub-county, Serere District, Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to: characterize smallholder groundnut farmers according to their market participation status; determine the socio-economic factors influencing intra-household market participation decisions; and identify the major challenges affecting market participation among smallholder groundnut farmers. A cross-sectional research design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted. Primary data were collected from 150 randomly selected smallholder groundnut farmers using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. The findings revealed significant differences between market participants and non-market participants in terms of age (p = 0.017), household size (p = 0.049), quantity harvested (p = 0.003), years of growing groundnuts (p = 0.006), land size (p = 0.036), quantity sold (p = 0.001), and selling price (p = 0.012). Education level (χ² =2.25, p=0.028 and main occupation (χ² =6.20, p=0.013 were significantly associated with market participation, while gender and marital status showed no significant association. Binary logistic regression analysis further indicated that age (B=-0.041, p=0.031 and household size (B=-0.118, P=0.023) significantly influenced household market participation decisions, while gender, marital status, education level, main occupation, fertilizer application, access to credit, extension services and agricultural training were not strategically significant predictors in the fitted model.
The study also identified several constraints affecting market participation, including low prices, inadequate access to reliable markets, poor road infrastructure, high transport costs, limited access to market information, inadequate capital and week institutional support. These constraints reduced farmers ability to commercialize groundnut production and limited household income.